Stitching-guide



F. A. McDONALD.

STITCHING GUIDE.

APPLICATlON FILED JAN. 8,1921.

1,396,447, Patented Nov. 8, 1921.7

IN VE N TOR 3mm WWW Z UM A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STITCHING-GUIDE.

Application filed January 8, 1921.

1 0 all QC/IONZ it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. l\lCDONAL1), a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at College Point, in the county of Queensand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Stitching-Guides, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved sewing machine attachment andcomprises a stitching guide adapted to facilitate the feeding of a workpiece to be stitched along a curved line. It is particularly useful as ameans for stitching circular pieces of leather known as ankle patches tothe sides of athletic shoes.

It is usually customary when stitching c1rcular patches of thischaracter to guide the material by hand, an operation calling forconsiderable skill, in order to keep the stitching at a uniform distancefrom the edge.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide mechanismwhereby the work piece may be accurately positioned on the work table ofthe sewing machine and automatically guided so that the patch may beneatly and uniformly stitched without calling for any close attention onthe part of the operative. V

In the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stitching guide applied to anordinary sewing machine, the usual machine head, table, needle bar andpresser bar being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the attachment, the work holder or centeringdevice being illustrated in full lines as set for the stitching of asmall patch, and in broken lines as set for the stitching of a largerpatch.

3 is an end view of the attachment, the gage being illustrated in brokenlines as set for centering a small patch, and in broken lines as set forcentering a larger patch.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the attachment, the set screw being omitted.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, 10 represents abody portion or support having an attaching lug 11 adapted to be securedtothe presser bar 12 of a sewing machine. The lug 11 may be providedwith an opening 13 to receive the usual thumb screw 14.

Attached to the-body portion or support Specification of Letters Patent.

.tion 10 and forming a part thereof is a Patented Now 8, 1921.

Serial No. 435,870.

10 is a presser element 15, preferably in the form of a wheel pivotallymounted upon the support by means of a screw or other appropriatefastening device 16. This presser element is preferably provided with aslightly conical circumferential surface 17, adapted to press the workpiece against the usual four-motion feed bar illustrated conventionallyin broken lines at 18, the relative posit 1on of the needle beingindicated in broken lines at 19. This presser element takes the place ofthe usual presser foot but offers materially less resistance to theturning of the fabric during the stitching operation. However, shouldthe circumstances require, the usual presser foot may be used.

Extending laterally from the body por- SL1)- porting bar 20 upon whichis mounted a slide 21 having a downwardly extending leg 22 terminatingin a pointed workholder or centering element 23. This centering elementmay, if desired, comprise a needle to pass through the work sheet or, ifpreferred, may be sufliciently blunt to prevent penetration. It ismerely essential that it shall prevent movementof the point of the workpiece with which it is brought in contact, so that the work piece willbe caused to rotate about this point during the stitching operation.

As a means for properly positioning the work piece, there is provided a.gage 2 1 slidably mounted within an opening in an arm 25 extendinglaterally from the leg 22.

To provide means for stitching circular patches of different diameters,or along curves of different radii, the slide 21 may be shifted todifferent positions along the bar 20, and secured in adjusted positionby means of the set screw 26. This movement of the slide may be limitedby any appropriate means, as by the cap plate 27 and screw 28.

The gage 24 is likewise adjusted to different positions correspondingwith those of the slide. To this end, the gage may be provided with ahead 29 the movement of which is limited by the ends of the enlargedportion of the opening in the bar 25. This opening may be closed by anyappropriate means, as by the screw plug 30.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With the presser bar and needle bar both raised, the work piece,comprising the oilcular patch 31 and the piece 32 to which it is pieceat the stitching line.

Assuming that the patch selected is of the smaller size for which theattachment is d esigned, the slide 21 and gage 24 are set 1n 'theirpositions indicated in full lines in Figs.

2 and 3. The work piece is then rotated about the point pierced by theneedle until another point in the stitching line, represented in brokenlines 84:, is brought immediately under the point of the gage. Thepresser bar is then lowered to bring the periphery of the wheel 15 incontact with the work piece and press the same firmly against the feedbar 18. At the same time the work holder or centering device 23 willengage or pierce the work piece at the center of the patch. The point ofthe gage is at sufiicient elevation above the work table to permit thework piece tomove freely thereunder. With the work piece and mechanismadjusted, the sewing maybe effected with little or no attention on thepart of the operative, since the feed bar and presser' element willcause 7. the work to rotate about the workholder 23 while being stitchedby the usual stitching mechanism.

Although .the extreme positions of the slide and gage, as indicated infull and broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3, provide for the stitching of buttwo sizes of circular patches, it will be obvious that the range of suchadjustment is unlimited and that by applying suitable scalesand indicingmeans,

these parts might be set at corresponding intermediate positions so asto provide for the stitching of circular patches of other sizes.

7 Although the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, itis not intended to be limited thereto but may obviously be modified tosuit the taste and skill of the designer within the scope of theappended claims.

That I claim is 1. An attachment having the usual work table, and feedbar,

' comprising a support, a'poin'ted work holder extending downwardly.therefrom to form a centering means at one side of the feed bar aboutwhich awork piece may be caused to rotate, so as to be stitched along acurved line, a presser element carried; by said supportto hold a part ofthe workpiece in contact with the feed bar, and a gage, extendingradially from said holder, by means of'which the work-piece be centered.

2. An attachment for a sewing machine having the usual work-table andfeed bar,

comprising a sup ort, a ointed work holder extendin dewnwardlytherefromto form a centeringmeans at one side of the feed bar,

about which a work piece may be caused to for a sewing machine rotate,so as to be stitched along a curved which the work-piece may becentered, said presser element and said gage being each' adjustable toand from said work-holder to provide for variations in the radius ofcurvature of the line of stitching.

3. An attachment for a sewing machine having the usual verticallysettable presser bar, work table and feed bar, comprising a body portionhaving means whereby it may be secured to the presser bar, a pointedwork holder extending downwardly from said body portion so as to beadapted to center a work piece on the work table at one side of the feedbar and about which the work piece may be caused to rotate so as to bestitched along a curved line, anda gage extending radially from saidholder, by means of which the work piece may be contered. I v

4. An attachment for a sewing machine having the usual verticallysettable presser bar, work table and feed bar, comprising a body portionhaving means whereby it maybe secured to the presser' bar, a pointedworkholder extending downwardly from said body portion so as to-be adaptedto center a work piece on the work table at one side of tance from saidholder.

5. An attachment for a sewinggmachine,

bar, work table and feed bar, comprising a body portion having meanswhereby it may be secured to the presser bar, in place of'the usualpresser foot, a pointed work holder extending downwardly from said bodyportion so as to be adapted to center a work piece on the work table atone. side of the feed bar, and about which the workpiece may be causedto rotate so as to be stitched along a curved line: a presser wheel rotatably mounted on said body portion to hold the work piece in contactwith the feed. bar near the stitching point, and a gage extendingradiallyfrom" said holder, by means of which the work piece may becentered,said presser wheel andgage being each. adjust-' able toward andfrom said work holder to provide for variations in the radius ofourvature of the line of stitching to be effected.

the feed bar and aboutwhich the work piece adjustable to correspondinglyvary .its dishaving the usual vertically settable presser (3. inattachment for a sewing machine having a work table and feed bar, saidattachment comprising a pointed work holder forming a centering means atone side of the feed bar about which a work piece may be caused torotate so as to be stitched along a curved line, a gagepositionedlaterally with respect to the line joining said work holderand feed bar, as means for positioning said work .piece, and means forattaching the holder and gage to the machine in the relation specified.

'7. The sewing machine attachment of claim 6, said work holder beingadjustable to vary its distance toward and away from said 15 feed bar,and said gage being adjustable so as to correspondingly vary itsposition with respect to said holder.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANCIS A. MoDONALD. Witnesses:

J. T. CROWLEY, MAY A. REINHART.

